Development News for Cabot, Arkansas

Planning Commission Tables Oakhill Terrade LLC Preliminary Plat Due to Drainage and Site Distance Concerns

The Planning Commission tabled the preliminary plat application for Oakhill Terrade LLC, which proposed 212 residential lots on a 78-acre property located on Highway 5. The decision to table was due to outstanding concerns regarding site distance, drainage, and the potential impact of the development on existing infrastructure and neighboring properties. The applicant aims to build duplexes as part of a build-to-rent model, intended to provide housing for future students of the new veterinary school and healthcare workers from the Mercy Hospital expansion. Discussions also touched upon traffic impacts, the need for a permanent median on Highway 5, and the capacity of the current drainage system to handle increased stormwater runoff. The commission requested further information and certifications, particularly from the ARDOT, regarding site distances and the proposed highway improvements, and a revised drainage report using a more appropriate C-value for wooded areas. The applicant stated that the drainage system was designed to exceed requirements, handling a 25-year rain event and detention basins sized for a 100-year event, with the aim of releasing less water post-development than currently flows off the site. However, concerns were raised about the accuracy of the C-value used and the potential for overflow from detention ponds, especially if the full 212 lots were developed in phases rather than as a single project. The commission also inquired about the inclusion of ARDOT's right-of-way acquisition on the plat and coordination with utilities.